3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4.
The premise of this book really intrigued me, but it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. I did like this book, but I felt like it was a little longer than it should have been. I found myself skipping parts because they didn’t feel necessary to the story. However, I still wasn’t able to put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. All in all, I would recommend this to a friend. It was an easy read and made me want to read more from this author.

A gripping story of how deep dark secrets affect friendships and relationships. How far would you and your old best friend who thinks she’s better than you go to hide a dark secret? Would you push an understanding boyfriend away in order to keep her pleased and happy to keep your own secret? How far will it go?

Spoilers may be included: Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC from Carola Lovering. This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last. This was a great book about the friendship of Billie and Cassie over the years. It starts off with Cassie's baby being taken during her at home 35th birthday party and we seem to know that Billie was the one who took her. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth in time from the past when Callie and Billie were in school together to current day when they are mostly estranged. Told from both of their points of view the characters were well developed. I must say I didn't particularly like either of them. Cassie was very shallow and was not a good friend to Billie. Billie put too much stock in their friendship and let herself be taken advantage of too often., always jumping when Cassie needed her. But the book kept me reading and I finished it pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend.

Bye, Baby kept my interest. Though I found many of the characters, shallow, needy, and unlikeable. The story, in my opinion, is highly implausible, due in part to the ending. I’m giving it three stars because it kept my interest, albeit not sure if it was worth the time spent reading it. The flashbacks, towards the end, were just annoying…..too much back-story.. Let’s get on with it. Thank you NetGally and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It surprised me, how engaged I was by this story. Less a thriller and more a story of friendship, secrets, trauma, and obsession, I found myself really rooting for one of the main characters, in particular, and invested in her outcome despite her wrongdoings. I also appreciated the thought provoking role of social media in the plot, and the theme of motherhood and how it's viewed by society. My chief complaint is the ending, which felt anticlimactic. 3.5 stars rounded down from me!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me an advance eCopy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

Pub Date: 05 Mar 2024

Our main characters Billie and Cassie have chosen different paths and seem total opposites, but for some reason shall a strong bond that is revealed later in our story.

Billie is portrayed as a very loyal, loving friend. Cassie is portrayed as the villain. She's a superficial, self-centered friend who is concerned only for her own needs and wants. .

The story is a good one, if a bit tough to follow at times. We are presented with a bag of issues (sexual abuse, Alzheimer’s,remaining childless by choice vs. motherhood, social media, and so much more).

It was a lot to take in and so worth the read. Had me pondering long after I finished the last page.

Wow. Five Stars

Bye Baby is a story about friendship. Billie and Cassie are lifelong friends bound together by life experiences in their teen years. Once inseparable, in their 30's, their lives have diverged. Cassie is married with a new baby and Billie is a single, working professional without any interest in becoming a mother.

Told from the perspectives of Cassie and Billie in the past and the present we get to know each of them. Cassie is selfish and feels she deserves to be rich since her father lost all of the family money and she was forced to grow up middle class--which is how she met Billie. Billie is consumed by Cassie and drops any and everything for her. Friendships grow apart as people change and most can let it go, but Billie forces the issue and continues to try to insert herself into Cassie's new life even though they haven't been close in years.

When Billie sees that Cassie has a birthday party and doesn't invite her, she makes a split second decision and kidnaps Cassie's new baby (this is not a spoiler, this is in the description). She returns the baby after a few hours without anyone knowing that it was her that took the baby. This decision has an unexpected consequence of drawing her back into Cassie's life and for a short time, they become the best of friends and Billie sacrifices other relationships to stay in Cassie's good graces. But the secret she holds threatens their renewed bond.

When the truth is revealed, other truths are uncovered and Billie and Cassie both realize what kind of people they are.

It was hard for me to relate to the way that Billie dropped everything for Cassie always. Cassie initially seems like a good friend and person, but then it becomes clear that she only cares about herself, wants Billie to be at her beck and call, and is determined to land a rich husband. Once she gets what she wants, Billie discards her. Somehow, instead of making Billie see Cassie's true colors, she fights harder to remain friends with her.

Solid 3 star read. Dragged a little at the end trying to tie everything together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Bye Baby by Carola Lovering
4/5 🌟 pub 3/5/24

I find the mind of this author to be fascinating, she finds a way to make drama and pace to go hand in hand. I have read several of her books and there is always a fine line between right and wrong and an emotional decision.

This book is about Billie a successful travel agent and Cassie a married wealthy influencer. These two were bff as teens and got through some major traumatic events together growing up with dreams to be more and get out of their small town. Cassie was always striving to marry money and Billie wanted to protect her mother and live a fun comfortable childless life. When Billie is abused by her self father Cassie does what she needs to protect her. They begin to drift apart after college when their priorities shift.

The rift is formed and Billie desperate to repair their friendship ends up kidnapping Cassie’s baby for less than a day and in the confusion she leans on Billie for support. While Billies twisted mind is comforted that’s her bff needs her again she is conflicted since she causes this upheaval in her life.

The story is written in alternating perspectives of both characters in today and the past. Could not put it down. Addictive and toxic but exhilarating.

The book revolves around a friendship between Billie and Cassie. Billie has no children and is single. Cassie is married with a child. Each chapter comes with their point of view. Also there's flashbacks on how they met and their friendships, from good to bad. In the present day, their friendships have drifted apart as they go their separate ways. Everything changes in that one night. Inside the book, it shows some childhood trauma and other things, including the impact of friendship.

Thanks to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.

great book wow. recommend having nothing else to do but read for a day or 2. the character development was great as as well as the plot.

✨Netgalley ARC review ✨

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date: March 5th, 2024

This was my first Carola Lovering book and it did not disappoint. It is a great women’s fiction thriller that also teaches some life lessons along the way. It was a definite page turner!

Cassie and Billie were best friends and when Cassie creates a new life for herself, Billie will do anything to get her best friend back.

This book covers different lifestyles and point of views in addition to showing the true tests of loyalty, friendship, and betrayal.

Mark your calendars! 📝

#netgalley #review #amazon #byebaby #carolalovering #carolaloveringbooks #carolaloveringauthor #honest #womensfiction #thriller #goodreads #bookstagram

I absolutely loved this book, once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. Thank you so much for the ARC.

This is my first book from the author and it honestly did not disappoint!
The story revolves around 2 childhood bestfriends Billie and Cassie and how growing up and can mean growing apart. It showed us alternating POVs from both characters as well as some flashbacks. I was expecting more of a mystery/thriller genre as advertised but it didn't really fit the bill as expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the writing style.
I wasn't really hooked the first few chapters but then I found myself unable to put the book down because of the good story development.
I disliked Cassie's character so much during the start of the book then I felt sympathy for her in the middle but went back to disliking her towards the end. As for Billie, I wanted more justice for her past and I just wanted her to be happy. The ending was great and realistic. Overall, I would recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read the digital advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Childhood best friends, long buried secrets and an unthinkable act make Bye, Baby a page turner.The characters all have buried secrets and strained relationships. The writing is tense and engaging. The reader simply cannot stop turning the pages.
Each chapter written from either Cassie or Billie's perspective give a well rounded look at their lives and reactions to one unthinkable action that will change their relationship forever.

Thank you St. Martin's Press ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
"Bye, Baby" is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complex friendship between Cassie, an NYC influencer, and her childhood friend Billie. Set against a backdrop of shifting timelines and perspectives, the story skillfully navigates themes of loyalty, motherhood, competition, and personal transformation.n The book talks about how social media affects people, and it also shows New York City in a detailed way, making the story feel very relevant to today. My only issue with the book (the four/five star reasons) would be that the author tried to incorporate TOO many themes/issues that she couldn't thoroughly hash them out. It felt cluttered. Other than that, I loved this book and have already been recommending it to friends.

Cassie and Billie had been friends since childhood and Billie still considered her as her best friend. After all, they do share a secret,but Cassie has built a new life which no longer includes Billie. Cassie has a website and a strong following and now that is the only way that Billie can keep up with her life. Then a fateful night, the night Cassie is celebrating her birthday., something happens that will bring the two friends together..
I did enjoy this story and thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars! This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author. She’s no doubt a very good writer with fantastic character development. Don’t go in expecting a thriller - this is a novel about toxic friendship, motherhood (or lack thereof), influencer life, and more. I think it would make a good book club pick for discussion. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Oh, this book! I have many thoughts. It depicts a really complicated relationship between two girls who grow up being best friends, but they’re very different, with different values and goals. Billie is really the main character, but we are allowed to know a lot of her friend Cassie also.

There were several “mini-climax” points in this book, but the part that keeps on twisting around is when Cassies’s baby was taken from her terrace while she’s in the middle of her birthday celebration. Many events spiral from this. But these girls have a history, and it’s very complex. No one outside their relationship truly understands it , because there are secrets that only they know.

This hit some notes on a personal level for me due to some friendship history. I didn’t expect that, and it has definitely caused me to examine some memories.

I really loved the book. It’s about so much more than these few surface details. I highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I truly enjoy Carola Lovering’s stories and her writing style. I enjoyed this story but kept thinking there should be more “this can’t be it”. I think this was mostly due that this book is advertised as mystery & thriller when in fact it’s women’s fiction & drama. Had it been advertised in the proper category this would have been a solid 5 star review. Also at 84%, why does the description of an unpleasant person have to include “ he probably is a republican”. There is no mention of politics anywhere else, why was this necessary? Thanks for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

I must be a hater to my core, because whenever I’m meant to hate characters I always enjoy the book more. 😂 Billie and Cassie are awful in their own ways and I ate it up. You get both of their POVs as well as chapters sprinkled in from their past together. I really enjoyed this story, it just wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as I anticipated. Thankfully I enjoyed the writing style and story itself regardless, so I still flew through this one.

Slight spoiler ahead!:
Literally no one learned their lesson in this story. I can’t tell if I love it for that or not.